Mother pleads guilty to driving under the influence that left son, brother with serious injuries

Published November 20, 2013 at 2:21 pm

Angela Marie Gutzkow

A Braham mother pled guilty Nov. 20 to charges relating to driving under the influence of alcohol resulting in a car crash and serious injuries to her 4-year-old son and her brother.

Angela Marie Gutzkow, 37, was charged Oct. 24 in Isanti County District Court with one count of felony criminal vehicular homicide or operation for operating a vehicle with neglect under the influence of alcohol; one count of gross misdemeanor criminal vehicular homicide or operation for operating a vehicle with neglect under the influence of alcohol; gross misdemeanor traffic DWI for operating a motor vehicle under influence of alcohol; and felony child endangerment.

Before Judge Todd Schoffelman, Gutzkow pled guilty to the first two counts — felony criminal vehicular homicide or operation for operating a vehicle with neglect under the influence of alcohol; and gross misdemeanor criminal vehicular homicide or operation for operating a vehicle with neglect under the influence of alcohol.

Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 8 before Judge Schofffelman.

Judge Schofffelman left all Gutzkow’s current conditions of release in place as when she was initially charged. She is ordered not to use or possess alcohol or controlled substances; no contact with the victim; subject to random drug and alcohol testing; not enter any bars or liquor stores; no use or possession of firearms or dangerous weapons and remain law-abiding. Bail amounts were also left the same, $100,000 without conditions or $25,000 with conditions.

According to records

According to the criminal complaint filed in Isanti County District Court, Deputy John Gillquist responded to the Oct. 22 crash at 4574 415th Ave. NE near Braham at 3:26 p.m. and observed a truck in the north side of the ditch that collided with a tree.

On the road leading up to the truck, Gillquist observed aggressive fishtail markings in the gravel on the roadway. Gillquist smelled alcohol from the truck and observed a spilled drink. He saw the windshield of the truck was shattered, and an impression on it that appeared to be a head.
Brakkus Giffrow, 4, was seriously injured after his mother, Angela Marie Gutzkow, crashed their vehicle into a tree during the afternoon of Oct. 22. Photo provided by Brian Giffrow

Braham Fire was also on scene and talked with Gutzkow’s brother who had blood covering his face and said he was a passenger in the vehicle along with the driver, Gutzkow and her son, Brakkus.

Gillquist observed Brakkus crying, with blood all over his face and several parts of his face swollen.

Gutzkow told Gillquist she didn’t know why she went into the ditch and might have been talking and got distracted. Gutzkow said everyone in the truck was wearing their seat belts, and Brakkus had been in the backseat in his booster seat.

While taking with Gutzkow, Gillquist smelled alcohol on her breath and noted her eyes were bloodshot and watery, and her speech was slightly slurred.

Gutzkow told Gillquist she had three 12-ounce vodkas that day mixed with fruit punch, with her last drink around 2 p.m. While talking with Gutzkow, Brakkus and Gutzkow’s brother were transported to Cambridge Medical Center.

Gillquist had Gutzkow perform several field sobriety tests; and her blood alcohol content tested at 0.232. Gillquist then placed Gutzkow under arrest for driving while intoxicated.